In 1997 the Texas Historical Commission adopted standard designs recommended for all six flags, with the aim of ending previous variations. All six nations had multiple flag designs in the course of their respective periods of sovereignty; in addition, the modern flags of Mexico, France, and/or Spain have been anachronistically included in displays. Six-flag displays are also affected by ongoing controversy over modern display of Confederate symbols.
Bullock Museum follows THC except noting "The royal banner of Castile and León ... is most frequently seen in displays of the Six Flags of Texas in spite of the fact that its usage in Spain ended three years prior to the Spanish claim of Texas."[13] And its picture of the flag is not : (1) instead of the arms of Castile it has the arms of Spain; (2) in the arms of León the lion is passant instead of rampant and tenné instead of purpure
The United States flag is usually shown with its current number of stars; however, the state seal design uses 28 stars, the number after Texas' accession to the union, so that it need not be updated if new states impel a new flag. (The 1961 design had 48 stars as it predated Alaska 49 even though not introduced till after Hawaii 50.) The 28-star version is also in this modern photo on a blog; no indication of where it was taken.
The Alamo Museum as of 2020 flew blue Fra, quartered Spn, 7-circle CSA, 28-star USA.[14]
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum for social studies includes an expectation that Grade 4 students can "Explain the meaning of various patriotic symbols and landmarks of Texas, including the six flags that flew over Texas, the Alamo, and the San Jacinto Monument."[15]
Timeline of events relevant for flag sovereignty[edit]
The 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas used various flags; the most official were probably those flown at the entrance gate, but souvenirs and official ephemera (tickets, posters, postcards, pamphlets, etc.) used differing versions.
Mays, Alan (25 October 2013) [1936]. "Texas Centennial Exposition Pass, Dallas, 1936". Flickr. Retrieved 2 January 2022. Castile-y-Leon; 7-circle Stars and Bars; plain fleur-de-lys; gold eagle w outline. Fan different order from #5 Centennial Flag
This home movie includes several pans of flags — mostly red-quarters Spn, plain-white Fra, 7-circle CSA; but I def saw one battle flag and maybe one Burgundy cross.
"Upon entering the “Texanic” Great Hall, visitors passed the flags of Spain, Mexico and Texas displayed from wall mountings on their left and those of the United States, the Confederacy and France on their right. ... huge, gold medallion at the head of the Great Hall, where a lone star was surrounded by the personified female forms of the sovereignties"[18] Two-row configuration 'allow[s] for a “dual allegiance” to the United States and Texas in the final position.'[19]
Fair Park had "myriad and ubiquitous iterations of the Six Flags motif".[20]
Let me say to both the Congressmen from Massachusetts that the State of Texas has a very peculiar history. We were once a part of France. We were once a part of Spain. We were once a part of Mexico. We were under three separate sovereignties before we ever became an independent republic. So we had four flags before we ever came into the Union. We were under four different flags before we became a part of the American Union.
Texas State Capitol 1935 renovation added six seals (not flags) on the floor of the rotunda Between points of lone star in order are "Kingdom of S."~"Kingdom of F."~"Republic of M."~"CSofA"~"USofA" with "Rep of T" in the center.[23]
1936 Adolphus Hotel display, blue field + 3 white fleurdelys; white field + crowned shield with chain and ribbons; 7-circle CSA[24] "Few countries and no other state since the days when Nero ruled Rome have given allegiance to six flags. ... Texas' history begins in 1684 when La Salle was granted permission..."
1936 Women's Benefit Association color guard has plain fleurdelys, red quarters, and battle flag.[25]
There were six porticos around the reflecting pool on the Esplanade of State in the Fair Park, each with a 20-foot statute representing one of the six nations (Left Spain, the
Confederacy, Texas; right France, Mexico, and the United States.)[27]
The opening ceremonies on June 6 had multiple references to the six flags. At the "Pageant of the flags" in the Cotton Bowl (stadium), each of the six nations had a representative who made a short address (mostly from elsewhere via live radio, a technological innovation) followed by the U.S. Marine Band playing its anthem. The speakers were:[28]
Commerce Secretary Daniel C. Roper spoke in person for the United States (not Vice President John Nance Garner as originally intended)
Each national flag was raised as its anthem played; when The Star-Spangled Banner played "Old Glory rose slowly in the air while the five other symbols of sovereignty descended slowly in deference to the ruling flag."[29] [Grainy wideview photo of pageant in Wiley's book[30]]
Mounted Rangers, carrying the six flags which have flown over Texas, cavorted in the van of the marching throng, the greatest demonstration of its kind ever staged in the romantic southwest. There was the flag of adventurous Spain, the one De Pinedo planted on the Gulf coast when his galleon sailed there in 1519. The golden Fleur de Lis of the French Bourbon kings, carried by La Salle in his Texas wanderings, whipped in the morning breeze. The fiery colors which waved over this vast state before General Sam Houston forever ended Mexican rule rode alongside. Then came the Lone Star flag of the Republic of Texas, the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy and, finally, the flag which patriotic Texans adopted as their own — the Stars and Stripes. [...]
“Dallas welcomes the world," read a huge sign on the first float of the historical pageant. An Indian standing In front held fanwise the six flags commemorated In Texas history.
The Texas Negro Under Six Flags[32] cover has modern Fra; oval-seal tricolor Spn; upright-eagle Mex; bloodstained banner CSA. A "did you know" list of historical facts includes:
13. That Jeff Hamilton, personal slave of General Sam Houston, lives at Belton, Texas and is well and hearty in spite of his 95 years (1936).
14. That the Negro slaves worked the plantations faithfully during the Civil War and kept the Southern Armies supplied with food. Also three Negroes belonging to Captain Atcheson gave a concert and raised one hundred ($100) dollars for the benefit of the wounded in the Galveston fight.
"Great Medallion of Texas" by Joseph Emile Renier in the Hall of State has six personifications holding shields.
C.D. Reimers' cachets for the centennial postage stamp featured the six flags, with red-quartered, plain-white, 7-circle, 48-star.[33]
Rotary District Conference may use official logo or own similar.[34]
Postcard "I am sending you the key" JT & LO Johnson: blue+3 Fra; white+red/gold+ribbons Spn; Battle CSA; straight Mex[35]
"Texas Under Six Flags" folk festival and pageant in Fort Worth beginning April 18[36]
Mexican-American “Las Maninatas” and “La Jarba”
African American folk songs and spirituals
French “Huguenot Hymn” and “Salve Sanctus” in Latin;
“pioneer” group “Will You Come to the Bower” “The Yellow Rose of Texas” “Oh, Suzanna”
Cowboy Band performed “Roundup Time in Texas,” “Hold My Hat While I Dance, Josie”;
The Spanish flag was supposedly based on Cortés' but the description is...:[16]
Red damask, double faced, equally divided into four squares, carrying the emblems of Castile and Leon. The upper left square next to the staff and the lower right carry the castle with three ramparts. The lower left and the upper right carry the rampant Lion, without the crown usually seen, in a smaller center field of white. The lion is red. The reverse side pictures the Holy Virgin Mary with hands folded. (For Exposition purposes, the flag will not carry out this part of the description.)
...whereas other descriptions of Cortes' banner (now on display in Chapultepec Castle) just show the image of the Virgin.[37] OTOH a contemporary painting shows red banners, one with a quartered shield in the center.
Interestingly, the Federal Government's exhibit at the fair included "such priceless documents as the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, the Florida Purchase Treaty and the Joint Resolution of Congress of 1845 annexing the Republic of Texas to the Union."[38] The dates of the two treaties do not align with the conventional dates of the six flags.
In his study of the theming of Six Flags Over Texas theme park, Richard Francaviglia suggests that the first use of the symbols of the six nations to govern Texas used on grounds of the Texas State Centennial in 1936 represented the first “amusement-oriented environment to use the six flags theme.” ... I would argue that since the Texas State Centennial focused on education rather than entertainment and only drew upon the themes as ornamentation rather cultivating specific organizational or architectural themes, the Frontier Centennial represents the first use of the six flags theme for entertainment purposes.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) operates Texas Travel Information Centers at main routes into the state.[40] These flew the six flags until June 2020, when all but the U.S. flag were withdrawn temporarily; the following month, the Texas flag alone was restored.[41] TxDOT justified the change both as a cost saving and "in the spirit of welcoming everyone to Texas".[41]
[The student is expected to] explain the meaning of various patriotic symbols and landmarks of Texas, including the six flags that flew over Texas, the Alamo, and the San Jacinto Monument
[The student is expected to] explain the meaning of selected patriotic symbols and landmarks of Texas, including the six flags over Texas, San José Mission, and the San Jacinto Monument
(The Alamo was in the first grade curriculum in 2000.)
"[Feb 1685] the fleet anchored in the Gulf outside the beautiful land-locked bay of San Bernard (now Matagorda Bay); and La Salle, flag in hand, and attended by soldiers and priests, set foot on the new land, taking formal possession of it in the name of the King of France"[44]
"Amid the cheers of the colonists the flag of France loosened its folds to the wind ... and La Salle, giving to the fort the name of St. Louis, dedicated it to France in the name of the King."[45]
"In 1690 Captain De Leon ... marched again to Fort St. Louis. ... The Mission of San Francisco was begun and dedicated ; the Spanish flag fluttered in the breeze ; ... and De Leon took formal possession of the country in the name of the King of Spain."[46]
"The surprise and the rage of the Indians when they saw the hated flag waving again above the fort may be imagined."[47]
"Marquis de Linares, the viceroy, when he saw his prisoner, was so charmed that he offered the young Frenchman an important post in the Spanish army. But St. Denis would not consent to abandon his own flag."[48]
"Captain Ramon and his soldiers on horseback, and stiff and erect in their holiday uniforms, followed with the Spanish flag in their midst"[49]
"The victorious army marched into San Antonio, flying their flag in triumph." describes Battle of Rosillo Creek of the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition which had a green flag for [q wikip] "the state of Texas as part of the Mexican Republic"[50]
"They built four small forts, — Forts Charles and Henry, Middle Fort, and Fort Palanqua, — mounted eight cannons, and hoisted the French flag."[51]
" all eyes were turned eagerly toward the citadel [in San Felipe] over which floated the Mexican flag"[52]
"[1835] They were more restless than ever, with their own flag waving above the Alamo and no enemy in sight."[53]
"Fannin was filled with gloomy forebodings, although the signal-guns of the Alamo, which were to be fired as long as the flag continued to wave over that fortress, were not yet silenced."[54]
"The old [Comanche] chief when he rode away [after treaty with Houston] carried the Texas flag tied to a stalk of sugar cane."[55]
"This [1839] Congress also adopted a national flag, the same now used as the Texas state flag. The first Lone Star flag was made at Harrisburg, and pre-sented to a military company in 1835. pointed, white, set on a ground of red. The flag raised by Fannin on the walls of Goliad when he heard of the declaration of independence was an azure star in a white field. Travis and his men, ignorant of the declaration, died fighting under the banner of the Republic of Mexico."[56]
[in 1853] "a procession, also composed of French emigrants, passed along Main Street in Houston. They had just landed from the steamboat Eclipse on the bayou at the foot of the street. At their head walked a tall gentleman ... and the tricolored flag of France floated above his head. ... The tall gentleman was the Count Victor Considerant. He had come with his followers from France to Texas to found a Phalanstery"[57]
"Texas, on hearing of [South Carolina's secession], was filled with excitement. ... the air was thick with the flutter of secession flags ... [On February 23 1861] Texas by a large majority voted herself out of the Union ... the Confederate flag was run up on all public buildings[58]
[17 April 1861] "To what flag am I asked to surrender?" asked the astonished captain [Captain Howe of the Star of the West, lying in the Gulf of Mexico, off Indianola]. Ensign Duggan of the Wigfall Guards displayed the Lone Star flag of Texas, and in his richest brogue exclaimed: "That's it! Look at it, me byes. Did ye iver see the Texas flag on an Irish jackstaff before?"[59]
"those who had marched away from Texas to the tune of "Dixie" or "The Bonnie Blue Flag.""[60]
[16 May 1888, dedication in Austin of new Capitol] "A thousand flags and pennons and banners fluttered from housetops, floated from tall flag-poles, and waved from open windows."[61]
In the late 1920s, Hardin–Simmons University's annual cowboy parade through Stamford began featuring flagbearers riding white horses: initially two, with U.S. and Texas flags, but soon increased to six women, with the six flags (USA left, Tex right), including the CSA's Stars-and-Bars.[62][63]
1942: US - Spain unclear - France plain fleurdelys - Mexico - Stars-and-Bars - Texas.[64]
According to the opinions of such jurists and diplomatists as Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, -of Livingston, Clay, and Adams (in 1818),- Texas was within the limits of Louisiana, when bought by us in 1803, as clearly “as the island of New Orleans." ... Texas had been discovered and settled by the French in 1685, five years previous to any Spanish settlement. ... After ceded to Spain, in 1761, its boundaries became unimportant; but when retroceded to and occupied by France, in 1800, she claimed as formerly, and delivered it to us by her officers, in 1804, as extending west to the Rio del Norte. It was boasted by Don Onis, the Spanish minister, who negotiated the treaty of 1819, after his return, that by his ability and tact it had been procured from us. Mr. Forsyth to Adams, July 30, 1820, says that Don Onis "endeavors to show that the treaty of cession of Florida ought to be considered as a treaty of exchange of Florida for Texas, a country more extensive, fertile, and valuable.” ... Mr. Gallatin, after laborious research, before 1810, became convinced the territory was ours; and our posts had, therefore, as early as 1806, been extended beyond the Sabine to Nacogdoches, one of the remotest settlements of much size. And Galveston itself was temporarily occupied by us, in 1817.
Under what pretence, then, can Mexico claim it? In 1819 we ceded it to Spain, not Mexico; and if, as some incorrectly maintain, Mexico was then revolutionized, she of course got nothing by this subsequent cession to Spain rather than herself. But if, as was the truth, Mexico never became independent of Spain, even by declaration, till February 24, 1821, though before torn by intestine divisions, all avowing loyalty to Spain, she claimed her independence only two days after the treaty of 1819 was finally ratified by us, and before Spain was notified thereof, or had taken possession of the territory, or had annexed it to Mexico; and months before Mexico got possession of the government of the country.
This is one view of the weakness of the claim of Mexico. Another is, that Spain had previously made claim to Texas; and, “under the Spanish government, Texas was a separate and distinct province. As such, it had a separate and distinct local organization.” When, therefore, her people, between 1821 and 1824, revolted from old Spain and declared themselves independent, and formed a new constitution and political organization, whether always before belonging to Spain, or given to her by our cession in 1819, they acted as a separate, free, sovereign and independent State, as much as did New Hampshire or South Carolina in 1776. ... As such, she continued in a revolutionary condition, till, Iturbide being shot, she joined the Mexican confederacy, with Coahuila, in 1824; and, with her, as a separate independent State, continued in the confederation, under certain specified terms, till 1834 and 1835; ... in 1834 and 1835, when the confederated rights of Texas were violated by Santa Anna, her people oppressed, her State legislature abolished, and the confederacy dissolved, a consolidated government was erected on its ruins, October 5th, 1835, and she refused, as was her sovereign right, to enter into the new government. She continued during 1835 to contend manfully against the usurper, and to sustain her independent rights, till the final victory of San Jacinto, in April (26th), 1836, crowned her efforts.
President James K. Polk in the 1846 State of the Union Address argued that the 1824 Constitution of Mexico explicitly acknowledged Texas' free choice to accede to Mexico, and thus implicitly recognized its power to secede from Mexico.[88] However, later Texas six-flags viewpoint did not include this notional 1824 instant of sovereignty within its symbolism.
During my residence of over twenty-six years [arrived Anahuac March 1831, p. 30], in Texas, the government has passed through three transitions, and I have been a citizen under five flags.
Late 19th–early 20th century is when the six flags "became popular as graphic symbols", along with the bluebonnet flower and Texas Longhorn steer.[90]
many parts of the United States have witnessed a succession of national flags. Over Texas the French, Spanish, Mexican, Texan, American and Confederate flags have floated; over Florida, French, Spanish, English, American and Confederate; in Louisiana, the Lilies of France, the Spanish flag, the Tricolor, the American and Confederate fags; in California, Spanish, Mexican, Russian, and American.
1884: Mary Sherwood Helm (widow of Elias R. Wightman):[92]
It may not be amiss to say that Texas has experienced many changes in her Political Government:
FIRST. Claimed and controlled by the Monarchy of Spain by right of discovery.
SECOND. Ceded by Spain to France in 1800.
THIRD. Transferred by France to the United States by the treaty of April, 1803.
FOURTH. Exchanged for Florida and receded to Spain by the United States under the treaty of February, 1819.
FIFTH. Severed from Spain and made part of the Republic of Mexico by the Revolution prior to 1824.
SIXTH. Erected into the Republic of Texas by the Revolution of 1835–36.
SEVENTH. Annexed to the United States and became a State of the Union, February, 1846.
EIGHTH. Adopted the Ordinance of Secession, and became one of the Confederate States in 1861.
NINTH Restored to the Union after the fall of the Confederacy in 1865.
1889 Hubert Howe Bancroft: "No state in the Union has passed through more political vicissitudes than Texas. During the present century her people have fought and bled under no less than five different national flags, representing as many different governments."[93]
Davis 1897 was a "popular state history textbook".[94]
Dudley G. Wooten's 1898 Comprehensive History of Texas 1685 to 1897 has two relevant parts:
TEXAS occupies a place unique in the history of American States. Since her discovery six different governments have claimed her allegiance. Six different flags have in turn waved over her in token of sovereignty. Her breezes have fanned the Lilies of France, the Royal Banner of Spain, and the Tri-Color of the Republican Mexico. Her sunlight has kissed the Lone Star emblem of her own independent sovereignty and the Stars and Stripes of the American Union. For four eventful years amid the smoke of battle she upheld the Stars and Bars of the Southern Confederacy.
Adele Briscoe Looscan's article "The History and Evolution of the Texas Flag" has a plate with 11 flags, none of sovereign states.[96]
1900: Adina Emilia de Zavala (1861–1955) The Six National Flags That Have Floated Over Texas playlet. She "wrote pamphlets about Texas history and popularized the fact that Texas had flown under six flags".[97] [unreliable source] Later influenced San Antonio Conservation Society's six-flags idea. This neo-Confederate blog asserts『The origin of the six flags flown over Texas motto was created by the savior of the Alamo, Adina de Zavala to explain our state’s complex cultural diversity.』Does any more reputable source make such a claim?
In one respect, at least, it occupies a unique position in the history of American States. Since its discovery six different governments have at different times claimed its allegiance and as many different flags have waved over it, those of France, Spain, Mexico, Independent Texas, the United States, and the Confederate States. The foundation of Texas statehood was not laid as a British colony, nor under the grant or control of the British crown, as were those of the original thirteen States. Its first settlement dates back more than two hundred years ... No other State in the Union has had such varied experiences or sailed through such stormy seas into the haven of peace and prosperity.
Texas, in its remarkable history, having passed under six flags, French, Spanish, Mexican, Texan, United States, and Confederate, has shown its determination to rest quietly under the protection of the “Stars and Stripes.”
1907: postcard of the Alamo with added flags; Spn (yellow field) and Fra (yellow escutcheon) colors may be unreliable; CSA battle flag.
1909: Banquet for President William Howard Taft at the Oriental Hotel Dallas has "Texas under six flags" theme, with Battle flag CSA and File:BandMercante1785.svg Spain.[100]
Texas has the unique distinction of having served under six flags, the French, ( 1645-1690 ) , the Spanish , ( 1690-1821 ) , the Mexican , ( 1821-1836 ) , the Lone Star , 1836-1846 ) , the Confederate , ( 1861-1865 ) , and the Stars...
1911: at the unveiling of Pompeo Coppini's monument at Sam Houston's gravesite, the stands were "draped with . . . the six flags under which Texas was governed--French, Spanish, Mexican, Texas Republic, Confederate and the United States . . . They furnished much evidence of the rich and glorious history of this grand territory."[102]
1910s: Ella E. Lane. "Queen of Texas in Texas Under Six Flags" at the Flato Opera House, Kingsville[103] which operated 1911–1918.[104]
1914: Six women in a parade carrying flags, possibly in Kingsville.[105]
1916: Nevin O. Winter:
Six flags have flown over Texas, including the banners of three foreign powers — France, Spain and Mexico. First came the French flag, which was carried down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico by the intrepid La Salle; following this was the Spanish emblem, first thrown to the breeze under the direction of the Franciscan priests; then came in succession the Mexican flag, and the Lone Star emblem of the Republic of Texas; the Stars and Stripes followed the Lone Star, but was supplanted for a time by the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy.[106]
1918: crest of the 359th Infantry Texas Brigade in World War I has modern Fra/Spn/Mex and Battle Flag CSA[107][108]
15 June 1920: Baylor, the Deliverer, a student pageant marking the 75th anniversary of Baylor University, featured a "Wheel of Time, whose spokes were composed of the flags of France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States".[109]
1921 Rotary school pageant "Centennial of the founding of the first Anglo-Saxon colony by Stephen F. Austin". Like some other sources, the history starts with France 1685 ignoring earlier Spanish explorers.[110] Finesses CSA by putting Texas entering the union after Civil War skit.[111]
1924: Oscar F. Holcombe: 1684-90, 1690-1821, 1821-36, 1836-46, 1846-61, 1861-61, 1865-present[112]
1926: Emily Edwards' map of San Antonio has six crests at edges; date are 1528-1541 + 1685-1821 Spn; 1685-1721 Fra; 1821-1836 Mex; 1836-1846 RTx; 1861-1865 CSA; 1846-61, 1865- USA.[113]
Then followed dances which told the history of Texas under six flags: Indians first, then Spanish, French, The Republic, Confederate, the United States.[114]
1932: Carlos Castañeda's Columbus Day address to the Knights of Columbus (printed in 1933, reprinted in 1999) just a potted history; does not describe flags, does give start and end dates for some.
1932: The "Temple to the Brave" in Beaumont was opened by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution commemorating "all Texans who have served in all wars"; it has six stained glass windows for the six flags. Their inscriptions are "1685; La Salle in Matagorda Bay"; "1689; Alonzo De Leon"; "1824; Abdication Of Iturbide"; "1836; Santa Anna before Sam Houston"; "Lt. Dick Dowling; Texas under the Confederacy"; "1865; The Progress of Civilization".[115]
Then we had the Fredonia flag. Doctor Long surely had a flag to run up over the cabin tops of Nacogdoches when he took possession of that town and declared independence. Gutierrez and Macgee would hardly run around the state taking possession of its towns without having flags. Some one of the firm would think of that detail; these men held three towns.
Then we had General Woll at San Antonio, and army officers always have a flag or two , and at Santa Fe we had another army officer with a flag of a Provisional government; then our own flag; French flags; Spanish flags; Mexican flags; Texas navy flags; Cannon flag. Any woman owning a quilt made from all these flags would be envied by her sisters.
But checking up in official flag language, the governments that ruled Texas, as a whole, and the flags the citizens of the state paid allegiance to, consisted of: Spain, Mexico, Texas, United States, Confederate, and again the United States.
Five Governments and Five Flags
La Salle's residence in Texas can hardly be called an invasion. The records do not show that he was making a claim for the territory, as he did when landing at the Mississippi. There he went through a regular ceremony, with inscribed tablets, witnesses, and in the name of his king and country he declared the territory theirs. But at Matagorda Bay, or on Texas soil, he made no such claims. [...]
1936: Texas Was Mine pageant after the six flags has an Indian saying:[119]
I am the Red Man. ... I had no flag ... I saw great nations rise and pass away, till the Great Eagle came from the North with the flag of many stars. His words are good medicine. The Red Man is his brother now.
1936–9: The base of the San Jacinto Monument has bronze doors into the internal museum, theater and elevator space, each with six panels with bas-relief of the six flags of Texas: France fdl semé; Spn red quarters; CSA battle.[121] Monument's website has two different French designs, and shows 7-circle rather than battle-flag of doors.[122]
1951: San Antonio Conservation Society (SACS) had a plan to preserve one historic building for each of the six flags. The Spanish Governor's Palace would represent Spain; the Guilbeau House [French-style 1840s-built], France; Haymarket Plaza, later replaced by Casa Navarro, Mexico; Alamo Mission, Texas; Vance House, CSA; Arsenal, USA. Guilbeau and Vance Houses torn down in 1952 regardless; Vance replaced Eager, then Devine House some Arsenal buildings preserved in use. But "Texas Under Six Flags" theme spread round San Antonio in 1953.[123] SACS' 1950s adoption of the six-flags theme is credited as influential in a review of Fisher's book.[124]
1952: Giant (novel by Edna Ferber); a 1920s Maryland socialite arrives in Texas as a newlywed:
Romantically entering the ranch house at Reata:[125]
The Spanish flag, the French flag, the Mexican flag, the flag of the Republic of Texas, the flag of the Confederacy, the flag of the United States of America. ... "Against the wall like that. -They’re history, alive. They’re so lovely. Gay like the flags in the cathedral at St. Denis."
Touring the Alamo while pregnant and somewhat disillusioned:[126]
There at the far end of the dim room were the six flags that had flown in sovereign authority over this violent and capricious state. ... Two hundred and fifty years of violence of struggle, of unrest.
1956: in the film adaptation of Giant, Bick takes the Texas flag out of his six-flag display and hands it to old Angel at the military funeral of young Angel, symbolically accepting them as full Texans rather than mere Mexican wetbacks.
The sequence of the six flags of Texas has been as follows: Spain, 1519-1685; France, 1685-1690; Spain, 1690-1821; Mexico, 1821-1836; Republic of Texas, 1836-1845; United States 1845-1861- the Southern Confederacy, 1861-1865; United States, 1865 to present. The sequence above gives with respect to the early history of Texas, eras during which the nations of flags indicated actually flew over Texas soil. For this reason the French period is limited to 1685-1690, though the French claim extended almost from the beginning of Texas history until France ceded Louisiana to Spain in 1762. Later Spain receded Louisiana to France and the issue between these two countries was finally settled by the sale of Louisiana by France to the United States in 1803. The Spanish claim to Texas extended from 1519 to 1821. Thus there was a long period of overlapping Spanish and French claims.
The succession of the flags, however, does not precisely parallel the political, economic and cultural development of Texas.
1. Aboriginal Texas
2. Conquest, Colonization
1. The early explorations 1519-1690
2. Spanish dominion until the secularization of most of the missions in 1793
3. Filibustering expeditions 1793-1821.
4. Mexican sovereignty and establishment of Anglo-American colonies 1821-1835.
3. Revolution-The Republic
1. The Texas Revolution, 1835-1836.
2. The Republic of Texas, 1836-1845.
4. Texas in the Union
1. Statehood prior to the Civil War, 1845-1861.
2. Texas in the Confederacy, 1861-1865.
3. Period of Reconstruction 1865-1874.
4. Period of early economic development 1874 to end of nineteenth century.
5. beginning of industrialization and urbanization of Texas, from beginning of twentieth century to the present.
1958 DAR magazine history article named the six flags of Texas, only describes France lilies and Spain colourful
1961: Six Flags Over Texas has 7-circle CSA; upright-eagle Mex; plain-fleurdelys Fra; Castile-y-Leon Spn.[129] Park lore holds that it was to have been named "Texas Under Six Flags" till a stakeholder — accounts vary as to who — complained that Texas had never been "under" anything.[130] In 1961, entrance to Confederate zone had both Star-and-Bars and Battle Flag.[131] "Six historical flags of Texas" has in a line with U.S. higher, and red quarters;[132] presumably slightly later picture at "dancing waters" has pied quarters flying but still red on logo.[133]
"Many flags have flown over Texas with varying degrees of sovereign authority. These flags fall generally into three classifications. First, there are the six sovereign flags- those of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Southern Confederacy and the United States. These are the six flags frequently mentioned in Texas history. Questions have been raised as to the correct design of some ..., notably the Spanish and French flags, and in some measure, the Mexican and Confederate flags." Article favours: red-saltire-on-white because used by Spain for "most of the period" 1519–1785; plain fleursdelys over blue royal standard; Stars-and-Bars (stars in circle, number unspecified) over battle flag
1962: Cover of the LP The Fifty Guitars of Tommy Garrett: Six Flags over Texas had red-quarter Spn and plain-gold France.
1964: Gilbert says "While additional Southern states soon joined the Confederacy, the Stars and Bars as originally designed, with its seven stars representing the first seven states to secede, remained in favor."[136]
1965: schoolbook gives six flags plus Indian flag: "The Indian flag was usually made from a deerskin. Since the Indians worshiped the sun, it was always painted on the flag." "Every Texan should be able to recognize the six flags of Texas and the Indian flag." Blue + white France but mentions white + gold, Quartered Spain but mentions "other two", CSA both 7-circle and battle.[137]
1970: Six Flags Mall, apparently named after amusement park rather than flags themselves, opens with six flags flying over its man entrance which are simply colored banners with store names, not national flags.[138]
1971: Postcard of the Alamo interior shows mostly-ref quarters Spn, plain white Fra, battle flag CSA.[139]
1970s: amusement park flags same in 1973 as 1961;[140] another photo might have more stars in CSA flag[141]
1973: Victoria, Texas Trail of the Six Flags Monument dedicated in 1962 had USA-CSA (7-circle)-Tex-Mex-Fra [plain white)-Spn (chequer quarter).[142]. Google Street View since 2008 shows blue+3 Fra and order US-Tex-CSA-Mex-Spn-Fra[143]
1982: Conquistador ride at Six Flags Over Texas had both quarter and white-field Spanish flags.[100]
1986: float in League City Village Fest parade; the parade is part of the 32nd Annual Village Fest: C-y-L Spain, 7-circle CSA, plain France.[144]
1986: reused 1936 post for sesquicentennial (CSA is 7-circle but hard to make out)[145]
Before 1992: Alamo has Spn, blue Fra, 7-circle CSA.[146]
1991: Texas Legislative Council book has seals with dates as follows: Spn 1519-1821, Fra 1685-1762 [presumably the Treaty of Fontainebleau], Mex 1821-36, Tex 1836-45, "Confederacy" 1861-5, USA 1845-61,65-present.[147]
2008: Six seals on Capitol's Christmas ornament; Nadine Craddick, wife of House Speaker Tom Craddick, said at unveiling "The six flags of Texas are a symbol of the great historic drama that is Texas History."[155]
June 2018: State Board of Education clarifies that kindergarten students need only identify the US and state flag, not all six "flags of Texas".[156]
Many buildings (not always with a tourist focus) display the 'six flags over Texas' ... series of six explicitly links the current state flag with the notion of separateness; the Lone Star flag represents Texas's time as a separate Republic rather than as a state within the United States. ... advertising ... "shopping malls, theatres, bars, banks" reverse of the Texas Seal, theme park.
2016: University of Texas at Austin educational resource has 11-star Stars-n-Bars and 27-Star US flag (post-1785 Spn, plan gold Fra, realistic eagle Mex)[158]
2021: "Six flags over Texas" panel included in "Kids' Guide" poster.[160]
Individuals/families living/serving under n flags[edit]
Bacilio Benavides (1800-1863) had "the distinction of having lived under six flags of national sovereignty, one more than his nephew, Santos" (1823–1891).[161] I think Riley's "six flags" include the 1840 Republic of the Rio Grande rather than France, with Santos missing only Spain.
"14 flags over Oklahoma" formed part of that state's section of the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. These 14 flags were flown at a plaza at the State Capitol from 1966 to 2013 (minus the Confederate battle flag from 1988). They moved to the Oklahoma History Center which opened in 2015, with the Stars and Bars representing the CSA.[167]
"Alabama: The Star of The South — Under Six Flags" (postcard) Spn 1540-1699, Fra 1699-1763, GB 1763-1779, Spn 1779-1803, USA 1803-1861, "Republic of Alabama" 1861, CSA 1861-5, US thereafter[168] Same six on another postcard "Six Flags of Alabama".[169] By contrast, the Coat of arms of Alabama, adopted in 1939, incorporates the flags of five nations, excluding the putative Republic of Alabama.
1967: Six Flags over Georgia opened, flying the Flag of Georgia (then-current version, incorporating CSA battle flag) and British flag (anachronistic post-1801 version) instead of Texas and Mexico;[171] other four flags same as Texas park. But what looks like a pre-opening publicity still shows a logo where the 6 flags appear to be 3 versions of Georgia flag, US, UK, and battle flag![172] Mockup with originally proposed name "Georgia Flags" has CSA battle flag,[173] as did 1967 pre-opening promo.[174] Later postcards have Stars and Bars,[175] but Iwo-Jima parody poster has battle flag.[176]
"Some areas of the state recognize more than six flags, including the flags of the Fredonian Republic, Long Republic, and Republic of the Rio Grande, all of which represent regionally recognized efforts to break free of Mexican governance."[179]
1930 Clarence Wharton's five-volume history, Texas Under Many Flags; doesn't enumerate the flags.[180]
Not six but eighteen flags have waved proudly over Texas soil and been carried into battle by her patriots. Besides the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy and the United States, there are 13 which have belonged to Texas alone.
"Though it is accepted universally as a fact that Texas has had six flags, by actual count Texas has had at least three times that number, and probably many more." [lists 19][182]
1961 almanac distinguishes the six sovereigns from two other types: revolutionary banners against Spain and against Mexico.[134]
"The earliest recorded Spanish flag was a church banner carrying the official seal of King Charles II. The one more often displayed in Texas was decorated ... Castile and Leon ... [hence] most frequently pictured as the first of the Six Flags of Texas."[185]
"Historians differ as to which of the many colorful flags of King Louis XIV ... golden lilies emblems of France were even then in popular favor, it may have been [white with gold fdl sémé]"[186]
"The flag in general use in Texas during the campaign against the Mexicans, especially by that faction of Texans who were known as the Conservatives, was the flag of 1824. This flag was favored by many Texans who wanted to show their desire to make peace with the Mexican officials. In fact, probably a majority of the Texans of that period looked upon it as Texas’s official flag in 1835 and 1836."[187]
Texas flag code says Texas flag should be to the left of all except US flag,[190] but many displays put Texas at right
Order - chronological with earliest to the viewer's left would place US flag towards the viewer's right, violating the US Flag Code which requires the US flag in the place of honor at the viewer's left. Alternatives include
using a historical US flag with the number of stars in 1846 immediately after Texas' accession, rather than the current number
diplaying the six flags in a circle or other pattern with no place of honor
display with US at left and Texas at right, other four in between
reverse of state seal has U.S. flag not in position of honor.[191]
1955 Texas flag statute "conflicts with international custom regarding the placements of flags of other nations when displaying the Texas flag".[192]
Six Flags Over Texas amusement park from its 1961 foundation used both Stars and Bars and the battle flag, phasing out the latter gradually through to the 1990s.[193] It replaced the six historical flags with six U.S. flags in August 2017 in response to the increased controversy prompted by the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. By this time the park's focus had shifted from Texas history to thrill rides, often linked to media franchises.[193]
Six White Horses removed 2017
TxDOT Welcome Centers removed 2020
Reverse of seal of Texas defined in 1961 used battle flag; 1991 definition used stars and bars. The 1961 design was promoted by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) and designed by Sarah Roach Farnsworth based on a 1931 design by Henry C. Wedemeyer for the DRT.[194] "The Texas State Seal Advisory Committee choose to use the seven-star Stars and Bars when the committee updated the design of the reverse of the Texas state seal in 1992 because the Stars and Bars is the most recognizable and least inflammatory of the three Confederate Flags."[195]
Charles E Gilbert says they had "blood-red flags ... colored with paints made from herbs"; 1989 edition has a James Rice artist's impression of one charged with a thunderbird.[200]
WHEREAS, Although Texas has been governed under six flags, the flag of the Indian has never been one of them ... be it RESOLVED ... that the people of Texas recognize the honor of sharing state and natural citizenship with such an honorable people as the Traditional Kickapoo (Texas Senate Resolution 602, 28 April 1977)[201]
Castañeda, Carlos E. (January 1933). Foik, Paul J. (ed.). "The Six Flags of Texas". Preliminary Studies of the Texas Catholic Historical Society. II (4). Austin.; reprinted in
de la Teja, Frank, ed. (1999). Wilderness mission. Preliminary studies of the Texas Catholic Historical Society / Studies in Southwestern Catholic history. Vol. 2. Austin: Texas Catholic Historical Society. pp. 119–128. ISBN9780966096613.
Ragsdale, Kenneth Baxter (1987). The Year America Discovered Texas: Centennial '36. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN978-0-89096-299-2.
Sebesta, Edward H. (2 February 2021). "The Triumphalist White Supremacy of Fair Park". Issuu. Retrieved 18 January 2022. [self-published polemic, but numerous examples from Fair Park etc. sole source that gives 1897 Davis as origin of six-flags motif]
[original version:] Spain, Charles A. Jr. (February 1992). "Flags and Seals of Texas"(PDF). South Texas Law Review. 33 (1): 215–259. ISSN1052-343X. hein.journals/stexlr33&div=10.
also articles [cross-check with 2016; later may be better]
Spain, Charles A. Jr. (24 July 2018). "Flags of Texas". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
Spain, Charles A. Jr. (25 April 2017). "Seals of Texas". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
Texas Historical Commission (11 January 2013). "Six flags over Texas"(PDF). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
The series of panels combine texts and pictures of familiar "Texas" symbols like the six flags ... The display deviates, however, from the "six flags" ...'
Day, James M; Winfrey, Dorman H.; Santos, Richard G.; Richardson, Rupert N.; Procter, Ben H.; Simpson, Harold B.; Connally, John; Frantz, Joe B. (1979) [1968]. Six flags of Texas. paintings by Donald M. Yena (2nd ed.). Waco, Tex: Texian Press. OCLC12763748. [cover is pied quarter, blue-gold, CSA 2/3/battle, ?28-star]
^ abc"Six Flags of Texas". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^ ab"Notes". The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association. 1 (1): 75. July 1897. Retrieved 6 January 2022 – via The Portal to Texas History.
^Waurine 1936 '"TEXAS UNDER SIX FLAGS" is a phrase with which every Texan is familiar.'
^Schubert, Jr, Otto (1936–1937). Carpenter, Allie Mae (ed.). "Texas Under Six Flags". Art Forum Pressbook. University of North Texas Libraries. pp. 200–201. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
^"Parade". The Portal to Texas History. Unknown. Retrieved 6 January 2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^Hardin-Simmons University Library. "H.S.U. Six White Horse Riders". The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas Libraries. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^"HSU Six White Horses will no longer carry Confederate flag". Abilene Reporter-News. August 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2022. The Hardin-Simmons Six White Horses march through downtown Stamford during the Texas Cowboy Reunion's Grand Parade on June 29, 2016.
^Woodbury, Levi (1852). "Re-annexation of Texas". Writings of Levi Woodbury, LL.D.: Political, Judicial and Literary. Vol. I: Political. Little, Brown. pp. 361–363.
^Ficklen, John Rose (1907). "[Texas] XIV: Reconstruction and Reunion". In Thorpe, Francis Newton; Lee, Guy Carleton (eds.). The History of North America. Vol. IX: Central America and Mexico. Philadelphia: George Barrie. p. 461.
Hoffman, M. M (1918). A Short History and Photographic Record of the 359th Infantry Texas Brigade: Lieut. Col. W.A. Cavenaugh, Commanding. San Antonio. OCLC556341319.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Holcombe, Oscar F. (21 June 1924). "Flags of 6 Nations Have Flown Over Texas [address to Associated Advertising Clubs of the World]". Editor & Publisher. 57: 103.
^Cosentino, Delia (June 2013). "Picturing American Cities in the Twentieth Century: Emily Edwards's Maps of San Antonio and Mexico City". Imago Mundi. 65 (2): 288–299. doi:10.1080/03085694.2013.784592.
Texas State Highway Commission; Bureau of Research in the Social Sciences, University of Texas; Federal Works Agency; Work Projects Administration (1943) [1940]. Texas; a guide to the Lone star state. American Guide Series. New York: Hastings House for Books, Inc. p. 199.
^Lay, Shawn (Winter 1997). "[Book review] Saving San Antonio: The Precarious Preservation of a Heritage by Lewis F. Fisher". The Western Historical Quarterly. 28 (4): 571. doi:10.2307/969901. JSTOR969901.
Arlington Historical Society's Fielder House Museum (1961). "Six Flags". The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas Libraries. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
WBAP-TV (1961). "[Six Flags on Dateline]". The Portal to Texas History. UNT Libraries. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
Perry, Richard H. (22 April 1965). "Texas' Top Tourist Attraction". The Ballinger Ledger. Vol. 78, no. 44. p. 8 sec. 2. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via The Portal to Texas History.
Seifert, Jeffrey (2011). "Six Flags Over Five Decades". RollerCoaster! Magazine. 32 (3): 4–23. ISSN0896-7261.
Francaviglia, Richard (Fall 1995). "Texas History in Texas Theme Parks". Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas. 7 (2): 35.
^Cox, Bertha Mae (1965). "Flags over Texas". Our Texas: explorers, heroes, battles, founders, makers. Dallas: Turner. pp. 19–26.
^WFAA (August 1970). Opening of Six Flags Mall In Arlington. YouTube. C. William Jones Film Collection, SMU. Event occurs at 13 seconds. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^State Board of Education; Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills; Social Studies Streamlining Work Group D (June 2018). "Recommendations: Government and Citizenship Strand"(PDF). Texas Education Agency. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^Hamilton, Peter Joseph (1913). Mobile of the Five Flags: The Story of the River Basin and Coast about Mobile from the Earliest Times to the Present. Gill.
^Spain 2016; Rash, Mrs. Grady, Jr. "Daughters of the Republic of Texas". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 18 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Texas Historical Commission, 2013 p. 4 / 1999 p. 5960
^Withers 1956 pp. 43n, 54; Gilbert 1989 p. 38 "Some historians maintain that, because of Magee's temporary control of San Antonio and most of the eastern area which is now the State of Texas, Texans had lived not under six flags but under seven."
^"io Grande Republic lasted 283 days". Alice Echo-News Journal. February 16, 1986. Texas is known for the six flags that have flown over it, but there is argument for a seventh. For 283 days the Republic of the Rio Grande existed.
but with mantling rather than chain collar
: (1) instead of the arms of Castile 
it has the arms of Spain 
; (2) in the arms of León 
the lion is passant instead of rampant and tenné instead of purpure
Spain, battle Flag CSA
Spn, blue Fra, 7-circle CSA.[146]
"Republic of Alabama" 1861, CSA 1861-5, US thereafter[168] Same six on another postcard "Six Flags of Alabama".[169] By contrast, the Coat of arms of Alabama, adopted in 1939, incorporates the flags of five nations, excluding the putative Republic of Alabama.
Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition (1812–13); 
Long Republic (1819); 
Republic of Fredonia (1826–27)
Flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande).[184]
!["[Memorial Auditorium in downtown Dallas, Texas with the six flags of Texas on six flag poles flying in front of auditorium]"](http://fusion.dallaslibrary.org/Repository/PA87-1-31-23-2.JPG){kind=link}
